"WHEN YOU LOOK AT A PERSON, REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE HAS A STORY. EVERYONE HAS GONE THROUGH SOMETHING THAT HAS CHANGED THEM."
Each of us has a story to tell.
We were inspired by Humans of New York, a photography project that began in 2010 to showcase various New Yorkers on the street with portraits, quotes and short stories from their everyday lives. We believe that every single person has their own unique individual story that guides their actions and opinions. However, as a society, we do not take the time to learn these stories. When you glance over at a random stranger or a fellow student on campus, it is impossible to know the battle they are fighting. We all walk around with some sort of baggage, or with pain and stress that can be both internal and personal. We are silenced by the fear of sharing these intimate details with others, especially on a campus of 40,000 students.
So, we sought to start a project and to talk to as many students as we could about their stories. We searched for a-typical students: students who have overcome their invisible struggles, students who have defeated the odds, and students who were brave and willing to share their stories with others.
Below, you will see engineers, first-generation college students, advocates, musicians and international students. Each human has their own story. Each human has a unique past that guides how they navigate through their college experience here at the University of Illinois. And now, their stories are finally acknowledged and celebrated.
Together, the 18 individuals below encompass what it means to be an "A-TYPICAL"student.
Hover your mouse over the thumbnail to read the caption.